Diabetes Incidence in 0- to 14-Year Age-Group in Italy A 10-year prospective study

established to coordinate the registries of type 1 diabetes in Italy. This report is based on 3,606 children younger than 15 years diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and prospectively registered during 1990–1999 by nine centers, covering 35 % of the Italian population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS — Registries were pooled in four geographic macro-areas: north, central, south, and insular. The completeness of registration was assessed by the capture-recapture method. Poisson regression analysis was used to evaluate temporal trend in incidence. RESULTS — Large variations in incidence were confirmed not only between Sardegna and the mainland but also among peninsular areas. In Sardegna, there was an excess of boys (the boy-to-girl incidence ratio was 1.4). The overall incidence showed average increases of 3.6% (P 0.001) and 3.7 % (P 0.001) per year in peninsular Italy and in Sardegna, respectively. Significant increases in incidence rates were found in boys aged 10–14 years (6.7%, 95 % CI 0.5–13.3) and in girls aged 5–9 years (6.6%, 0.5–13.1) living in the southern area. The incidence rate also increased in boys aged 10–14 years (5.0%, 0.3–10) and in girls aged 0–4 years (4.9%, 0.8–9.1) living in Sardegna